Andrew Bynum could be worth the risk to the Cavs

Andrew Bynum has two bad knees.Last November, he reinjured one of them bowling.He was ejected from an elimination game in the 2011 playoffs after delivering a forearm shiver to Dallas guard J.J. Barea.He has a reputation for being moody and aloof.Normally, that's enough red flags to scare off any team — even the Sacramento Kings.But this is the NBA, and 25-year-old All-Star centers don't normally hit the free-agent market.The Cavaliers reportedly are pushing hard to sign Bynum, and they have competition in the Mavericks and Hawks.This is the type of pursuit we normally would criticize, but in the case of the Cavs, it makes perfect sense.

The Cavs are about $12 million under the salary cap, and Bynum would be the perfect finale to an unexpected foray into free agency this month.Yahoo! Sports reported that the Cavs are offering Bynum a two-year, $24 million contract that is loaded with incentives and includes a team option in the second season.That would preserve the Cavs' cap space for 2014 (the Summer of LeBron), and it would give the team another piece for a playoff run in 2013-14.In 2011-12, with Mike Brown as the Lakers' coach, Bynum averaged career highs in points (18.7) and rebounds (11.7) per game. He also shot 55.8% from the field, blocked 1.9 shots per contest and played in 60 games. The latter number is quite an achievement for a player who, since appearing in all 82 games in 2006-07 (his second season in the league), has averaged 44 games played in the six seasons that have followed.Bynum had surgery on both knees in March, and his agent, David Lee, told The Associated Press on June 25 that the center would be ready for the start of training camp early this fall.With Bynum, anything is possible.But if, by some remote chance, the center remains healthy for the majority of the 2013-14 season, he would make the Cavs a dangerous team in an Eastern Conference that only has five teams that appear to be near-guarantees to make the playoffs (Miami, Indiana, Chicago, New York and Brooklyn).All it would cost the Cavs would be one year and about $12 million from Dan Gilbert's fortune.

That cash might turn out to be as well-spent as an extended stay at a Horseshoe Casino Cleveland slot machine.But the potential jackpot — a playoff berth, followed by the return of a headband-wearing, two-time Finals MVP — makes it worth the risk.

The Browns deliver at the last minute

By now, you're aware of an amusing last request made by Scott Entsminger in his obituary. The Mansfield resident, Columbus native and Browns season-ticket holder “respectfully” requested “six Cleveland Browns pall bearers so the Browns can let him down one last time.”Now that's a parting shot.And kudos to the Browns for delivering.The Browns didn't have time to send pall bearers to Entsminger's memorial service on Tuesday in Mansfield, but they did reach out to Entsminger's family and will bring a customized jersey of Entsminger's favorite player, Lou Groza, to the service.If you're a Browns fans, or even just a supporter of humor during tough times, check out Entsminger's obituary from The Columbus Dispatch.

Live from Columbus

Bruce Drennan is hitting the road Tuesday, and it's not to head to the Indians' game against the Blue Jays.SportsTime Ohio's “All Bets Are Off With Bruce Drennan” will air live from the west plaza outside Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Tuesday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.Today marks the start of the Columbus Blue Jackets' development camp, and players and members of the NHL team's front office will appear on the show.You can follow me on Twitter for sports information and analysis, but not recaps of injuries sustained while making a trip to The Corner Alley.

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